Guiding attachment for sleds.



No. 788.794. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

H. D. ROE.

GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SLEDS.

APPLIGATION FILED DEC. 29. 1904.

vwe wm Harry JD. Hoe.

Z; Si Q ay UNITED STATES Patented May 2, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SLEDS.

SPECIFIGATION' forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 788,794, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed December 29, 1904. Serial No. 238,792-

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY D. Ron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of Sussex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guiding Attachments for Sleds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention, relates to a guiding attachment for sleds, sleighs, and the like; and it consists of certain novel features of construction and combination of elements.

In the following specification I will present the preferred form of construction which I deem necessary in materializing my invention, wishing to comprehend in this application all substantial substitutes and equivalents which may be regarded as falling fairly within the scope and purview of my invention.

The prime object, among others, is to provide reliably-efficient means for placing the sled or sleigh under the complete control of the operator, and while my invention is especially useful for coasting-sleds, placing the sled under reliable control at all times, it will also be useful for sleighs and for, guiding sleds of all kinds.

Other objects and advantages will be obvious from a study of the following specification, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a sled provided with my guiding attachment complete ready for use. Fig. 2 shows a central section of Fig. 1 as indicated by dotted line 2 2 of said view. Fig. 3 shows a side view of one of my sled-guides. Fig. 4 shows the preferred form of crank-arm designed to insure perfect control of the sled guide or member illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows a sectional View of Fig. 1 as indicated by dotted line 5 5 of said View. Fig. 6 shows an inner bracket. Fig. 7 shows an outer bracket employed in securing the sled-guide proper illustrated in Fig.

3 in its operative position relative to the sledrunners as shown in Fig. 2.

Numerals will be employed in facilitating reference to the various parts of my invention and elements cooperating therewith, and, referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 designates a sled-runner of the usual or any preferred construction, the sled proper being fashioned after any desired pattern and. preferably provided with the seat-board 2,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it being understood that suitable cross-bars 3 are also provided to connect the runners together and support the seat piece, all of which relate to the usual line of construction followed in producing a coasting-sled. Designed to cooperate with the rear end of each runner is my guiding attachment proper, consisting of the foot-piece or base member 1, integrally formed with or connected to the upright 5, which latter is slightly inclined in position and is mounted in suitable brackets comprising the inner members 6 and outer members 7 properly fashioned to lit around the ends of the sled, to which they are secured, as by the bolts 8 passing through registering apertures 9. The lower edge of the foot-piece or guiding member proper is preferably beveled or slightly sharpened, as indicated by the numeral 10, whereby when the member 5 is turned the outeror free end of the foot-piece will be caused to take into the ice, snow, and the like and insure perfect guiding action will be imparted to the sled, and in order that the inclined members 5 may be readily turned in their seats I provide a controlling arm or lever 11, preferably having a tubular head 12 to lit around the member 5, said head being held against rotation upon said member 5 by a pin or bolt passing through the registering apertures 13, as will be clearly obvious. In

order that the members may be controlled by the feet of the rider, I have provided a cross bar 14, held in a pivoted position, as by a bolt 15, passing through the cross-bar 16, and I connect the foot-piece 1 1 upon each side of the bolt 15 with the controlling arms or levers 11 by means of the links or rods 17 or equivalent thereof, and by this arrangement it is obvious that both of the controlling members or guides properA will be turned simultaneously in the same direction and insure perfect control and guidance of the sled.

By inclining the post or member 5, as before explained, I am enabled to cause the extreme point or outer free end of the member 4 to take sharply into the ice and snow, which would not be possible if the members 5 were vertically disposed, and I thereforecall special attention to this feature of my invention.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the forward end of one of the connecting rods or links 17 as attached to the foot-piece 14 by means of the bolt 18, and I also show an interposed washer 19, which disposes the rod or link member 17 out of contact with the cross-bars 3 of the sled, which is obviously necessary in order to insure perfect Working of the parts.

It will thus be seen that I have provided reliably efficient means for guiding a coasting-sled by the action of the foot of the rider, and, furthermore, that my improved guiding appliance will be found very eflicient as a steering appliance for sleds of all kinds, iceboats, &c., and believing that the advantages, construction, and operation of my invention have thus been made clearly apparent further reference to the details is deemed unnecessary.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The herein-described guiding appliance for sleds comprising the members 4: connected to or integrally formed with the controlling members 5, the latter being disposed in an inclined position; suitable bearing-seats for said member 5; a footbar and means to operatively connect the member '5 with said footbar whereby said member may be turned in its bearings and thereby bring the outer end of the foot-piece to describe an arc of a circle, the ends of the circle taking downward into i the snow, ice, &c., all combined substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY D. ROE. Witnesses:

LESTER H. WILLIAMSON, J OHN YOUNG. 

